Noura’s Crescent Moon

PreS-Gr 3–Noura and her family look for the new moon, which indicates the end of Ramadan and start of Eid ul-Fitr. The book begins by establishing the mood, giving readers a sense of anticipation, and putting them right in the story as Noura’s family gets ready to watch the sun set. They find the best spot on the hill, then unpack their dinner and wait to see if the moon makes an appearance. After some time, and finally accepting that the moon may not make an appearance, “the tiniest of tiny smiles” appears in the dark sky. This story features religious and cultural traditions, and a glossary goes over terms used in the story that readers may not be familiar with, such as Chaand Raath. Back matter gives context and further explanations to certain aspects of the story, such as why the sighting of the moon is important.